Pouring opening for containers



Jan. 21, 1958 R. w. NERENBERG ETAL 2,820,585

PoURING OPENING FOR coNTAiNERs Filed July 1, 1954 lill/llllf/lA/n 11111111111111111111/ Unite States POURING OPENNG FOR CONTAINERS Robert W. Nerenberg and Alfred B. Kleingers, Jr., Middletown, Ohio, assignors to The Interstate Folding Box Company, Middletown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 1, 1954, Serial No. 440,716

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) Our invention relates to paperboard cartons and more particularly to cartons provided adjacent their upper ends with a pouring opening by means of which the contents of the cartons may be dispensed.

In the past numerous proposals have been advanced suggesting various pouring openings and pouring spout constructions, ranging from simple depressible tabs adapted to form a pouring opening to complicated spout structures formed from boxboard, metal and diverse other materials. Many such constructions are found in wide spread commercial use, but in general they are found to possess Various undesirable features. A simple depressible tab, for example, is undesirable in that once depressed to form the pouring opening, it is exceedingly difiicult to withdraw from the interior of the carton and must be pried out With a knife or some other similar tool. It is practically impossible to withdraw such a tab with the fingers. lf the tab is not withdrawn, it tends to interfere with the free pouring of the material packaged in the carton and the carton cannot be suitably re-elosed.

Pouring spout arrangements present other problems. For the most part they materially increase the cost of the carton and require special handling and equipment to affix them to the cartons. In the case of metallic pouring spouts, for example, a cover sheet is necessary to prevent the contents from sifting out of the carton around the spout and to prevent the spout from being accidentally opened during shipping and handling.

Lined cartons present a special problem in that the primary purpose of the lining is to proof the contents against moisture and the outside air. Consequently if the liner must be severed or otherwise punctured to accommodate the pouring opening, the primary function of the linerV is destroyed and the utility of the carton greatly diminished. While various attempts have been made to overcome these diculties, such attempts have resulted in cumbersome and diicult to open cartons and have increased the cost of the cartons beyond the means of the average packager, particularly those dealing in staple, initially low-cost items.

The instant invention relates to simple, economical and yet effective means for overcoming the diiculties enumerated above.

It is, therefore, a principal object of our invention to provide a carton having an integral pouring opening which may be readily opened by the user, the user having only to push inwardly on the cut area defining the opening and then pull outwardly on a tab member which automatically presents itself as the initial opening is effected.

A further object of our invention is the provision of an effective pouring opening which may be utilized with a lined carton, the puncturing of the carton to form the opening serving to simultaneously effect an opening in the liner which is imperforate until the time the opening is effected.

Yet a further object of our invention is the provision of a pouring opening of the character described which is ring opening showing the parts lifted free of the opening.

our invention.

ICC

formed as au integral part of the carton structure Without any increase whatever in the amount of board required to form the carton itself and without any additional parts or the like which would require special handling. The structure is one which can be formed entirely upon currently available box-making equipment without additional expense.

These and other objects of our invention Which Will appear hereinafter or which will be apparent to the skilled Worker in the art upon reading these specifications, we accomplish by those constructions and arrangements of parts of which we shall now describe certain exemplary embodiments.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a preferred form of pouring opening in accordance with our invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial perspective view similar to Figure l but with the pouring opening depressed inwardly.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is another partial perspective view of the pour- Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional View similar to Figure 6 illus- ,trating the insertion of the tab beneath the closure flaps to maintain the parts in the open position.

Figure 8 is a partial perspective view similar to Figure l illustrating an alternative embodiment of our invention. Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9 9 of Figure 8.

the tuck-in variety or otherwise, as desired; and neither the type nor shape of the carton form limitations upon Generally speaking, however, such cartons are generally of rectilinear configuration with the pouring opening formed adjacent the top of the narrower body walls of the carton.

In the embodiment illustrated, the body wall 2 is provided with an upwardly opening U-shaped cut 4 defining the ap area 5 which in turn denes the area of the pouring opening. A tab 6 is similarly dened by the lines of cut 7 and 8 joined at their tops by the connecting line of cut 9. The lines of cut 7 and S are spaced inwardly from the legs of the U-shaped cut 4 and extend thereabove so that the rtab 6 lies partially within the tlap area 5 and partially above it.

As best seen in Figure 2, the carton will be preferably internally lined with a liner 10 which, again, may take any desired form and may itself be formed from divers materials. Preferably the liner will be formed from polyethylene or other like material, although coated papers, such as paper coated on one surface at least with polyethylene, may be successfully employed; and the specific nature of the lining material does not constitute a limitation upon our invention.

It is important, however, in the association of the liner with the carton that the liner be adhered to the carton wall in the area of the U-shaped cut 4 defining the ap area 5; and we have found that the liner should Alowing the cut edge ofthe Viiap area.

ananas@ be drawnv as tautas possibleacross the adhered-` area. Thus, as seen in Figures land 2, adhesive is applied to the inner surface of body wall 2 substantially in the manner illustrated, care being taken toV maintain the-'tab freel from attachment to rthel liner; By drawingy the liner taut'crossthe ap area 5,"a kind of drurnhead eiectis obtained, so that sharp inward pressure'along the VU-'shaped cut-will automatically break'the'liner simultaneously with the formationof the pouring -openingin the carton body wall. We thus eliminate the necessity for perforatingor otherwise interrupting the imperforate condition of the liner prior 'tothe opening of'thcvcarton for use. 'Y

The carton is openedfin themannerbest `seen-in^F-ig ures 3- and 4; wherein inwardlyV directed Vpressure is'applied to thepflapV area 5, thereby causing theareaSjto be pivoted *inwardlyl -in thevr ina-nner illustrated. A's already indicated, inward movement of the flap area will" cause thelinei: to breakor tearfalong a'linefollowing the curvature-of the U-shaped cut-out, thereby automaticallyjcausing the liner to be opened.A We have found thatyit" is unnecessary'to -score the flapI area# S'between the'upper ends of the U-shaped cut and thelines of cut-7'ande'8, although suchV scorelines may be providedifs'so desired.

Whenthe ap* area 5Lis1l dn'eizvressedvi inwardly, itV will be noted that;th'e tab-rnoves with' thedlap area andflupper or free end of the tab 6 projects outwardly "fromthze plane -of thebody wall 2-whereeit can-be; easily grasped bythey user andA employed? to i removel then Hap;A area from fthe interior-'ofthe carton, in-the mannerj seen in Figures 5 and 6. To this end, it will be noted thatxthe 'tabf'willfold 'fuponlaf transverse"lineextendi'ngebletween th'ef-,bottom-edges ofthe linesof cut17 ands; such'lnes being indicated at 12'. Again, this does nothave to be ascoreline, but ratherthe-boxboard willsimplyj fold ofits--own' accord as the-tab-isfpul-led'. Itwilbbe Nnoted to the ilap area, is positioned substantiallyl atA the Vcenter of the flap, thus vassuringY that "theg lla-p will'fbe readily removed from the'pouring opening. A' neat re-closureof the cartonV mayv be effected simply` by pressing the'ap area back into the opening with thetabfi` similarlyjoc-A cupying its initial position.

We have also found that thetlap 5 can be conveniently maintained in the open-position by inserting the freeend of the tab 6 into theupper end of"the.slot`13 deined s also that the -line- 12,' which; ineeflect, connects "thetab an integralelongated'tab 14 projects downwardlyY from the 'bottom-oi the flap area 4, the elongated` tab termi- `natingrat its lowerendin-'a'laterally projecting foot 15.

spot of adhesive,- indicated*atfl'in-theldrawings, and in Y 'this instancethe adhesive'rnay Vcover'the upper. portion oftheelongated'l tab 14,'as illustrated, to eifect4 a clean break when vthe carton is opened.

A s seen in Figure l0 the carton willrbe openedlby pressingl inwardly on the flap area 5, therebyvcausing the liner to be simultaneously brokenalonga-line fol- In this, instance the free end of the elongated tab l4fwilllbe yprojected outwardly and the4 tab will ride'Y inwardly alonggthe broken edge of the liner adjacent the bottom edgepffthe 1 opening. fThe'projectingfootnon. the bottom. end of the tab K14wil1;'preyenthe tab` from being drawncoinpletely within the carton where it would not be acces- 4 t sible; vthe-'footv engaging int theslotfrom which thee'ftab is struck. As before, the user has but to grip the free end of the tab and pull it outwardly to cause the ap area to be withdrawn from the interior of the carton.

While in the preceeding description we have described our invention as applied; to aglined carton, it will be readily apparent (that it will find utility in nnlined carton whereirritl is desired/to provideal convenient' pouring opening'. This ...ist particularly tr.`ue.,of. the preferredembodimntf illstatgdl in Heure l wherein the .carton-will what we desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent is:

l. ln a carton adapted'to have a pouring opening formed therein, a single thicknessbody wall having aflap formed thereinjandl ldelined"along'three sidesby a; genera1ly Ushapedf line'. forseverance, said Yapj being integrally connectedtosaid body 'wall' along kits Yremaining side and foldable relative tofsaidwallalong a line.eX tending between the free endfedges QfsaidU-shap'edline fOr SeF/.eranand 4a'tlb 'for withdrawing Saidanfrom Withmsaidcartpmlsaidtab being-,formed .inpartinsaid Hap andiin; parti in;` tite-wall Off said' cartonv lying immediately beyond tli'ediiae ofgconnection of said apnto saidfcarton walLsaid `tabbeing of` a width narrower than the width of' said flap and. defined. onV three sides by Ya generallyy ALlfshaped lineofl cut oppositelyg directediinrelation tothe line', forseverance Idefining Vsaid ap,l,with' the'r base fof fsaid tab` integrally; connetedito said Hap ,alongl a line. ofI `::onnection`- centrally disposed within the .said ap, whereby asnsaid lilap ist deected vfin.- wardlyfr'om the. plnerftsaid .carton body wall, the vpor- 'tion Aof .the tab'lyinggbeyondisaid flapwill be V`automatically projected loutwardly, relativelcrV said. carton body-Iv wall. so that: the.. usermay.- then grip, thev projecting encl ofathe tabtowithdrawtthegap from .within the. carton.

21, In a .Carton aditlfic'im,llzivcalfl pouring-,forming .formed therein, a body walhhavingailapj'thereinrldened alongthree sides, bya generally U-shapedtlinejforf sev,- erance,. said ,.flap; being integrallyY connected to said body wall alongiits ,remaining side; and; foldablerelative to :said wall along a line exten ing between/the freefend-,edges ofsaid ';-Ushap edline g iseverancg a tabgforwithdrawinggsad, ap from withini the carton; said'vtabibeinggfvormed infpartgi aidfllap andfi art;.in the said'fcartonewall inirnediatelybeynd;therlineiof connection `of saiddlapzto said;wall, said-tably fbeing? denedjroni three sides g by;7 a generallyUfshapedilineg offcut-zoppositelyj vdirected inzr'elation to Y the; lineyiorfseyerance defining saiduapg: with the base.; of said;tab; integrally 1 connected. to f said l'ap along a; line ofzconnectioncentrally disposed withinthe bodygofsaid ap,and;aulinertwithin said carton .securedA tosaid ;ap andr'to :the innerxsurface of said cartonbod-y wall adjacent the line for severance. defining said'Y flap, said tabribeing '.freegfrom :attachment ,toV said liner, whereby' when saidiapzis foldedsinwardly relative Ato saidV carton body wall along its line of connection thereto, said liner willxbe .broken away ialong` a: line conforming 'sub- Istantiallylo `said line. forlseverance'and the portion-of said tab lying outsdesaid flap Vvwillproject outwardly-Southat the user-maygrip `the extending endloflthei'tab to withdrawthe ap andfthe portion of the liner adhered thereto from within the carton. Y

3'.fIn-a carton adapted" to have as-pouringl opening formed therein, a carton ybody wall havinga apitherein defined i by a line j for: severance, saidv ap being integrallyf-connectedrtonsaidglbodyjwall along1 a, base edge Vandhingeable relative to said "wall "along said baseed'gg and, a tab for withdrawingrsaid,flapgfrom-withinsaid carton,` rsaiditab being yformed .-in, part t in said, ,flap randein part in th'e'wallof 'said 'carton lying immediately'beyond the base edge of said ap, said tab being of a width which is less than the width of said ap and having a base edge lying Within said flap, the remaining edges of said tab being delined by a line of cat traversing the base edge of said ap and extending therebeyond by a distance suicient to provide a nger grip portion, whereby when said flap is deected inwardly from the plane of said carton body wall, the linger grip portion of said tab lying beyond the base edge of said ap will be automatically projected outwardly relative to said carton body wall so that the user may grasp the projecting nger grip portion of the tab to withdraw the iiap from within the carton.

4. In a carton adapted to have a pouring opening formed therein, a carton body wall having a flap therein defined by a line for severance, said ap being integrally connected to said body wall along a base edge and hingeable relative to said wall along said base edge, a tab for withdrawing said ap from within said carton, said tab being formed in part in said ap and in part in the wall of said carton lying immediately beyond the base edge of said ap, said tab being of a width which is less than the width of said ap and having a base edge lying Within said ap, the remaining edges of said tab being defined by a line of cnt traversing the base edge of said iiap and extending there beyond by a distance sucient to provide a linger grip portion, and a liner within said carton secured to said ap and to the inner surface of said carton body Wall immediately beyoud the line for severance defining said Hap, the inger grip portion of said tab being free from attachment to said liner, whereby when said flap is deliected inwardly from the plane of said carton body wall, said liner will be broken along a line conforming substantially to the line for severance dening said flap and the linger grip portion of said tab will be automatically projected outwardly relative to said body tab to withdraw the ap from within the carton.

Reterenees Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,065,911 Doli et al. June 24, 1913 1,085,372 Bahlsen Jan. 27, 1914 1,470,705 Zalkind Oct. 16, 1923 1,494,518 Whppey May 20, 1924 1,678,426 Field July 24, 1928 1,947,865 Marsh Feb. 20, 1934 2,146,226 Punte Feb. 7, 1939 2,233,602 Greeley Mar. 4, 1941 2,364,439 Guyer Dec. 5, 1944 2,407,865 Biskamp Sept. 17, 1946 2,437,114 Moore Mar. 2, 1948 2,549,582 Dunning Apr. 17, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 776,131 France Oct. 22, 1934 

